The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to identify and remove image artefacts from ultrasound image frames by applying a neural network to the frames. Systems may include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echo signals responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward a target region. One or more processors communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate an image frame from the ultrasound echoes and apply a neural network to the image frame. The neural network determines whether an artefact is present in the image frame, and identifies the type of artefact detected. The processors can also generate an indicator conveying the presence of the artefact, which can be displayed on a user interface. The processors can further generate an instruction for adjusting the ultrasound transducer based on the presence and type of artefact present within the image frame.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit the instruction to a controller communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer.
3. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the ultrasound transducer by modifying at least one operating parameter thereof based on the instruction received from the one or more processors.
4. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 3, wherein the ultrasound transducer is physically coupled with a robotic arm configured to move the ultrasound transducer.
5. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate and cause to be displayed an ultrasound image from the least one image frame on the user interface.
6. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises a graphic overlay superimposed on the ultrasound image displayed on the user interface.
7. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein each of at least one of the plurality of neural network models associated with one of a plurality of preset imaging modalities is selectable by a user.
8. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7, wherein each of the preset imaging modalities is configured to cause the ultrasound transducer to acquire echo signals from a distinct target region by implementing a set of operating parameters specific to the distinct target region.
9. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate and cause to be displayed a predicted artifact-free ultrasound image.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising selecting an imaging modality for acquiring the echo signals, the imaging modality comprising operational parameters specific to the target region.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting the instruction to a controller communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising modifying an operating parameter of the transducer based on the instruction.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the instruction on the user interface.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising training the neural network using ultrasound image frames containing a plurality of different artifacts and user instructions for adjusting the ultrasound transducer based on the plurality of different artifacts.
16. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a predicted ultrasound image without the artifact.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions, which when executed cause a processor of a medical imaging system to perform the method of claim 10.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 29, 2018
May 28, 2024
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.